Conservatism In Australia
Conservativism in Australia was a disparaging epithet used by radicals and Laborites and claimed by few until the late 20th century. Hirst says that as a strong movement, conservatism is "a very recent arrival in Australia. John Howard, who became prime minister in 1996, was the first holder of the office to describe himself as a conservative."
Today the terms covers similar political issues as found in other Western democracies. In the early 20th century the self-styled "liberals" had connections with radicals and reform movements. However as Howard, the Liberal prime minister 1996-2007, has argued, the Liberal Party became the trustee of both the classical liberal and conservative traditions. That is it combines "liberal" (market-based, pro-business, anti-union) economic policies with conservative social policies.
Read more about Conservatism In Australia: Political Parties, Republicanism, Further Reading
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